US-Kuwaiti Journalist Acquitted After 52 Days in Custody

American-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, who was detained in Kuwait last month for reposting content tied to the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, has been declared not guilty of all charges, his legal representatives reported. The international team confirmed the verdict on Thursday, stating Shihab-Eldin will soon be released.

Shihab-Eldin faced accusations of distributing false information, endangering national security, and misusing his mobile device. The charges were reportedly linked to his social media posts, which included verified footage of a US F-15 fighter jet crashing near Kuwait City and images of a pilot who had ejected in the al-Jahra region. The aircraft was one of three mistakenly targeted by Kuwaiti air defenses during the conflict.

The legal team, comprising London-based barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, noted that Shihab-Eldin was arrested the day after the incident and held in custody since. They emphasized that the charges were based on his reposting of images confirmed by international media. Gallagher’s statement highlighted the 52-day ordeal and the relief of his team at the acquittal.

“We are relieved that, after 52 days in detention, Ahmed has been found innocent on all charges. Our focus now is upon ensuring the liberty and safety of our client, and we will provide more details once they can be confirmed,” Gallagher said.

Kuwaiti authorities have not yet commented on the case. However, the country and other Gulf states have detained numerous individuals for sharing videos documenting Iranian attacks on their territory during the war. The BBC has sought official remarks from the Kuwaiti government.

Shihab-Eldin, a journalist with contributions to BBC, New York Times, and Al Jazeera, was in Kuwait visiting family when he was last seen on 2 March. His posts sparked the legal action, with the Kuwaiti interior ministry previously warning the public to avoid spreading unverified content. State media reported that such actions are closely monitored and met with firm responses.

Kuwait’s emir issued a decree last month to safeguard military interests, which included provisions for up to 10-year prison terms for those spreading false information or statements about military operations. Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), expressed relief at the verdict, stating, “Ahmed’s freedom and safety remain our topmost priority and we will continue to closely monitor his case.”